Expert Analysis

More than 120 brand owners and trade mark practitioners attended MIP's second Brand Management Forum at the Hotel Arts in Barcelona on June 23 and 24. The programme featured presentations from regulators and brand owners, as well as roundtable discussions and interactive panel sessions. The Forum coincided with the annual Festa de Sant Joan, which Catalans celebrate with fireworks, firecrackers and all-night partying.

The UN is set to agree a controversial convention that will have serious implications for international licence agreements. Ben Goodger and Patsy Day analyze the details of the convention, and reveal why IP owners should be worried

Europe is following the US example and introducing a Bolar provision to exempt generic research aimed at obtaining regulatory approval. Marjan Noor and Camilla Smith examine the proposal and how it is likely to be implemented by member states

Unlike many technology companies, Cisco's recently developed patent strategy stresses working with standards bodies rather than aggressive enforcement. The company's head of patents, Robert Barr, told James Nurton why

For the past 12 years, IBM has received more US patents than any other company. But now it says that it is changing the way it handles its IP, opening up large parts of its portfolio – and warns that its rivals will have to adapt or die. Sam Mamudi investigates

Spurred on by success in several cases, campaigners in developing countries want to reform the patent system to recognize the place of traditional knowledge. If change comes, it will have a big impact on all patent applicants in the life sciences industry. James Nurton and Emma Barraclough report